LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 79TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

May 3, 2005

TO:	Honorable Jeff Wentworth, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB3475 by Haggerty (Relating to the statutory probate courts of El Paso County.), As Engrossed

No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend Section 25.0731(b) of the Government Code to create an additional Probate Court in El Paso County as of September 1, 2005.  The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.

Local Government Impact

Currently, El Paso County has one statutory probate court; the bill would bring the total to two on September 1, 2005.  The county would be responsible for the annual salaries of the court's judge, certified court reporter, probate administrator/auditor, court coordinator, probate assistant I, probate court investigator, court visitor coordinator, and court clerk.

The estimated annual cost for the proposed court is $641,878, which includes salaries and benefits ($506,703), operating costs ($26,260), and guardianship appointment costs ($108,915).  In addition, the county would incur a one-time set up capital expenditure of $73,000.  Since El Paso County's fiscal year begins October 1, the county would incur a cost of $126,490 for fiscal year 2005, thereafter the cost would be $641,878 annually.  El Paso County currently receives revenues of $353,373 from court costs and fees.  It is assumed that improved caseload management brought about by the creation of the new probate court could result in additional revenues; however, the amount of increased revenues cannot be estimated.

Source Agencies:

304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

JOB, DLBa, LB, ZS, ER